Man arrested for bringing knife to library, school

A Summerville man brought a 6-inch knife to the Goose Creek Library on Halloween and police took him to jail.

Jonathan Erwin Dutcher, 22, was arrested shortly after 9 a.m. on Oct. 31 after the Goose Creek Police Department received a call about a suspicious person with a knife.

Dutcher was detained and disarmed without incident. He was carrying the fixed-blade knife on his hip in a black carrying case, according to a Goose Creek Police Department incident report.

He also had an active warrant through GCPD for a similar incident that occurred at a Westview Elementary School on Oct. 25, according to another incident report.

Shortly after Noon on Oct. 25 a man asked the school secretary for a teacher, but learned she retired three years ago.

Another witness was walking through the parking lot and saw the subject take the knife out of a bag as they passed each other. He did not point it at anyone or make any threats, according to the report. The subject was seen riding his bicycle down Springhall Drive.

All three Westview schools were placed on lockdown as officers searched the area. Once the area was confirmed clear of the subject, the lockdown was removed. Surveillance video was reviewed.

After being detained inside the library, Dutcher was charged with carrying a weapon and carrying weapons on school property.

His bond has been set at $6,092 for both charges. As of press time Tuesday morning Dutcher was still incarcerated.

Dutcher asked officers if they would return his bicycle to his parents. Police contacted the subject’s stepfather who said he no longer lives at the residence because he was kicked out, according to the report. He said he is homeless and has been living in the woods.

The stepfather said the subject had been living in Charleston but was back in the area to work at the fair. The stepfather said one of the reasons they kicked him out is because he was threatening them with his knife all the time, according to the report.

The stepfather said he would keep the bicycle until Dutcher was released and could take the property back.

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